Ray Parlour says Middlesbrough can give themselves a fighting chance of staying up if they can beat Arsenal on Monday evening.

The former midfielder racked up more than 300 appearances for the Gunners over a 12-year spell and also spent three years on Teesside between 2004 and 2007 as a player.

Parlour, part of the Boro team that reached the UEFA Cup final, feels Monday’s Premier League showdown between his former clubs is a “must-win for both” - with plenty on the line at either ends of the table.

Arsenal head to the Riverside on the back of four straight away defeats and with manager Arsene Wenger under increasing pressure, as the Gunners’ top four hopes fade.

“This is a must-win for both sides. We mentioned that last week but Boro are desperate at the bottom, on 24 points,” Parlour said.

Wayne Rooney fends off a tackle from Ray Parlour

“If Boro win and Hull lose (away at Stoke) they could be three points behind, so have a good opportunity (of staying up).

“They have to take advantage of Arsenal’s situation at the moment, and they still have a game-in-hand too.

“There’s no confidence or belief in that Arsenal dressing room at the moment after losing 3-0 to Crystal Palace, and I’m sure Steve Agnew will say to the players, ‘look let’s take advantage of that, start the game well, try and win that first ball and first tackle.”

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Parlour feels Adama Traore has to start at the Riverside to give Boro enough attacking zest to cause Arsenal problems - but feels the Gunners may just prevail.

“There’s a lack of goals at Boro - they can’t score goals,” Parlour told the Alan Brazil podcast. “You have to play players like Traore as he runs and commits players, and maybe they can win some free-kicks cand create opportunities that way. He’s quick and can go past players.

“But Arsenal have to bounce back, you can never write them off as they always end the season well.

“At the moment they’re in turmoil, you don’t know what’s going to happen in terms of the manager or players, so maybe this is an opportunity for Boro. But I’m sticking my neck out and say Arsenal have to bounce back, I think they’ll get a result.

“If they lose this one the top four is over for them.”

Another player to have worn both shirts - Paul Merson - also fears Arsenal may have too much for Boro in the North-east on Monday evening.